Ancient City of Arykanda

To reach the ancient city of Arykanda, it is necessary to follow the path of Finike and Elmalı to the side of the Taurus Mountains and then continue for another six kilometers from Çatals. The road that is followed to reach the ancient city is largely covered with pine trees, making it feel like it is going towards peace. It is estimated that the active settlements in the ancient city of Arykanda, located near the village of Arif, coincided with the 2000s BC. Unfortunately, there are no remains of these periods. The oldest surviving pieces from the ancient city of Arykanda are coins, pots and pottery. These belong to the 5th century BC. The ancient city of Arykanda began to be influenced by Christianity after the 4th century. Throughout history, many earthquakes have caused serious damage to the city. Especially after 240 BC, the earthquake caused serious damage to the city. As these earthquakes continued, the population migrated to the vicinity of Çatalar village. In later centuries, they dispersed to more remote locations to protect themselves from Arab attacks. The ancient city of Arykanda was discovered by an Englishman by chance in 1838. Regular excavations have been carried out in the area since 1971. Professor Cevdet Bayburtluoğlu is the leading figure in these studies. A bath meets you at the entrance of the ancient city, which has managed to survive considerably despite the earthquakes it has experienced. The walls and windows of this bathhouse are still standing. In the opposite section it is possible to see traces from a high basilica. A necropolis is located just to the right of the city. The reliefs here are of interest. The remains standing at the foot of the cliffs in the left section are outnumbered. The Agora of the city is also located in this area. The odeon in the rear section is still standing.